Beaulieu Convent School is a Roman Catholic independent school for girls located in St Helier, Jersey. When the education facility required an urgent refurbishment, international flooring specialist Gerflor supplied a wide range of its acclaimed floorcoverings, including Olympic pedigree Taraflex sports flooring, Creation LVT, and Tarasafe Safety vinyl. Alongside this, Gradus matting and finishing solutions were installed, providing a complete package for the project.
The interior collections from Gerflor and Gradus were chosen not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their proven reliability in delivering the highest levels of safety, comfort, performance, and durability.
Founded in 1937 by the Sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Conception, Beaulieu moved to its current site in 1951. In 1999, the Sisters gifted the school to the Island of Jersey under the condition that it remained a Catholic school. Today, Beaulieu offers education across preschool, primary, secondary, and sixth form, with courses including GCSEs, A Levels, and BTECs. Rooted in Catholic tradition, the school prides itself on a strong sense of community, pastoral excellence, and academic focus.
Chris Pursey, Gerflor Specification Area Sales Manager for the Southwest and Channel Islands, said: “Sport has a significant role and contribution to play in Jersey … right through from schools to state facilities and community hubs. This centre is at the forefront of facilities on the Island and is used by both students and local sports clubs alike.
The renovation programme covered multiple areas, with the main priority being the sports hall. Taraflex was installed for its safety, comfort, and performance benefits, while Creation 55 LVT was chosen for corridors and the fitness suite due to its stylish design and easy maintenance. Tarasafe Safety Vinyl was used in changing rooms, and Stratus carpet tiles in the linking corridor. Gradus products including Esplanade 8500 and Boulevard 5000 matting, stair nosings, skirtings, and finishing details were also specified for a complete solution.
The refurbishment project was led by Page Architects, a St Helier-based practice founded in 2003 by George De Sousa and Paul Van Bodegom. George De Sousa explained: “The project was developed to improve the sports facility offering to the pupils at Beaulieu, prompting their health and well-being. The success of the sports hall has enabled the school to rent the facility to various after school clubs and the community at weekends, which has proved to be a great success.” He added: “We specified Taraflex sports vinyl flooring after research and positive feedback from the school’s PE department.”
Overall management was undertaken by AC Mauger, one of Jersey’s leading contractors. Mark O’Shea, Contracts Manager, said: “We have been actively involved with various phases of Beaulieu for approximately four years, the Sports Hall being one of the last. Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring was specified as the best option for its cushioning properties, comfort, and optimum safety.
He continued: “In addition to Taraflex, we specified Creation LVT for the fitness suite and corridors and Tarasafe Safety vinyl for the changing rooms. Working in partnership with Gerflor also gave us access to Gradus products, and both ranges absolutely met the high expectations of the architect and school.
Installation was delivered by JW Contract Flooring Ltd, based in Kingston-upon-Thames. James Waters, Company Director, said: “We were delighted to be invited by Gerflor to be involved in this iconic project. The Gerflor and Gradus flooring and interior finishing products are extremely easy to install, user-friendly, and high quality while being competitively priced. There has been a lot of media interest in the project, and on that basis, I would deem it an accomplished success.”
He concluded: “We would definitely choose Gerflor and Gradus products again. The project was seamless in terms of logistics and lead times, especially given the Jersey location.
Looking back at the project, Chris Pursey added: “It was remarkable to be able to specify solutions for every part of the building, from the main sports hall, dance studio, gym, changing rooms, and corridors, even the finishing accessories including stair edgings and matting.
Summing up, George De Sousa concluded: “The Gerflor floor coverings and Gradus finishing solutions we specified are more than meeting the high expectations we set. The final result throughout the school looks simply stunning and has made a real difference for the staff, pupils, and community.”
